Method and device for presenting the length of an object protruding from the rear of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for presenting the length of an object protruding from the rear of a motor vehicle, which comprises the steps of: acquiring (31) an image of the rear external environment close to the vehicle; and presenting (33) the image on a screen which is arranged in the driver's compartment of the vehicle. It further comprises a step of: presenting (35) a symbol which indicates the maximum lengths authorised for an object protruding from the rear of the vehicle on the screen. A presentation device and a motor vehicle comprising the device are also described.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and device for displaying the length of an object protruding from the rear of a motor vehicle. State of the art

[0002] Users of a utility vehicle such as a van, truck, etc., often need to transport long items. These are then placed in the utility section of the vehicle and extend beyond the rear.

[0003] However, driving regulations, such as the French Highway Code, impose precise limits on this type of overhang. For example, the French Highway Code stipulates that no load may extend beyond the front of the vehicle, and that at the rear, any overhang exceeding 1 meter must be marked with a warning sign at its end. In all cases, the load may never overhang by more than 3 meters. This type of rule, with variations, is found in most countries.

[0004] Therefore, currently, a user with such a load to transport must, after installing it, check with a meter that the regulatory distances are respected.

[0005] This can be time-consuming and also a source of oversights or errors.

[0006] Therefore, there is a real need for a process and device to aid in measuring such a load.

[0007] In addition, the prior art is known from documents US7068289 B2, US2018 / 050637 A1 and EP1717757 A1. Description of the invention

[0008] To overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for presenting the length of an object protruding from the rear of a motor vehicle comprises the following steps: acquisition of an image of the external environment behind the vehicle; presentation of the image on a screen located at the driver's seat of the vehicle; The process is characterized in that it further comprises a step of: display on screen of a symbol representing the maximum permitted lengths for an object protruding from the rear of the vehicle.

[0009] Thus, the vehicle driver can immediately see, when in the driver's seat, whether the long load complies with the highway code.

[0010] Specific characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: The symbol includes at least a first line symbolizing the length from which the object must have a warning signal at its end and a second line symbolizing the maximum length allowed for an overrun; The vehicle having an opening at the rear of the vehicle, the symbol is only displayed upon detection that the opening is in the open position; The symbol is displayed for a predetermined time; The symbol is displayed periodically; and / or The method includes a preliminary calibration step comprising the placement of an object with the calibrated signal length and maximum length and the detection of the position on the screen of the calibrated lengths.

[0011] In a second embodiment, a device for displaying the length of an object protruding from the rear of a motor vehicle comprises: an image sensor of the external environment behind the vehicle; an image display located at the driver's seat of the vehicle; The device is characterized in that: The display is adapted to show on the image a symbol representing the maximum lengths allowed for an object protruding from the rear of the vehicle.

[0012] In a third embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a device according to the second embodiment.

[0013] In a fourth embodiment, a computer program includes instructions for implementing the steps of a presentation process as defined above during execution of the program by a computing unit of said device. Brief description of the figures

[0014] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: [ Fig 1 ] represents a side view of a utility vehicle having a display device according to an embodiment; [ Fig 2 ] represents a view of the display screen according to the embodiment of the Fig 1 ; And [ Fig 3 ] represents a flowchart of one implementation method of a presentation process. Methods of implementation

[0015] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle of the van or light truck type. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as pickups, vans, etc.

[0016] With reference to the Fig 1, a vehicle 1 transports a long load 3, for example beams, planks, iron rods, etc.

[0017] At its end, load 3 has a long signal 4.

[0018] As a result, an opening 5, here a rear door or one of its leaves, is left in the open position.

[0019] The vehicle 1 includes a sensor, for example a camera 7, that captures an image stream of the vehicle's rear environment, including its immediate surroundings. This sensor 7 is connected to an image display 9, such as a liquid crystal display, positioned in the cab to allow the vehicle's driver to view the image stream captured by the camera 7. The camera 7 and the display 9 constitute, for example, an electronic rearview mirror, an accessory increasingly offered when purchasing a commercial vehicle, as it significantly improves the driver's view of the rear environment.

[0020] The field of view of camera 7 includes the area into which the long load 3 exits vehicle 1.

[0021] Display 9 also includes means for displaying a symbol representing the maximum permissible lengths for an object extending beyond the rear of the vehicle. Typically, Fig 2 , this symbol consists of two bars 21, 23 delimiting on the one hand the length 21 from which a sign must be present and on the other hand the maximum authorized length 23. The bar 21 is associated with a sign symbol 22 and the bar 23 is associated with a warning symbol 24.

[0022] Thus, the vehicle driver, by looking at screen 9, knows immediately whether their load is correctly indicated. This is the case in the example of the Fig 2 since the end of load 3 is located between line 21 and line 23 and is equipped with signalling 4.

[0023] It should be noted that the Fig 2 only presents the essential elements for educational purposes. In a real-world context, screen 9 being that of an electronic rearview mirror, the elements of the Fig 2 will be superimposed on a view of the rear environment of the vehicle.

[0024] The operation of the device can therefore be understood as a sequence of the following steps, Fig 3 : acquisition 31 of an image of the rear external environment close to the vehicle with the camera 7; presentation 33 of the image on a screen 9 located at the driver's seat of the vehicle; and presentation 35 on the screen of a symbol 21, 23 representing the maximum lengths allowed for an object protruding from the rear of the vehicle.

[0025] However, many variations and optimizations are possible.

[0026] One option is to display the 21, 23 symbol only upon receiving a command from the driver, for example, via voice command or by pressing a predetermined button. This has the advantage of freeing up space for the image display when the symbol is no longer needed. Indeed, once the load is installed and while driving, the driver does not need a constant reminder of the permitted external lengths.

[0027] In another variant, which can be combined with the first variant, the symbol is displayed only for a predetermined time. For example, during the first few minutes after the vehicle is started or for a few minutes after the command to display the symbol is received.

[0028] One alternative is to display the symbol only if the opening 5 is detected in the open position.

[0029] The symbol can also be displayed periodically. This has the advantage of allowing the driver to check that their load is not shifting.

[0030] The symbol can be positioned on screen 9 in different ways. An easy and inexpensive method is based on the fact that, in a series of identical vehicles, the camera 7 will always have the same position and field of vision, regardless of the vehicle.

[0031] A calibration step is then carried out on a vehicle by placing an object with the signaling length and the maximum length calibrated and detecting the position on the screen of the calibrated lengths.

[0032] There Fig 1This illustrates a device in a specific embodiment. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes, highlighting the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using various means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component can include at least one computer or control unit. Each component can include at least one memory. The memory can contain computer program instructions or software code.

[0033] Calculators can be implemented using any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. Calculators can be implemented as a single controller, or as a plurality of controllers or calculators.

[0034] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0035] For software, the implementation can include modules or units distributed as procedures, functions, etc. Memory can be any type of storage circuit. It can be part of the processor circuitry, or separate and connected via electrical data links. This can include non-volatile memory, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in memory and processed by computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0037] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0038] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description should be considered illustrative and given by way of example, and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0039] For example, the described embodiment and its variants assume that the long load rests on the floor of the utility vehicle. The described device and method can also operate for a long load fixed to the roof of the utility vehicle, provided that the field of view of the camera 7 includes the end of such a load.

[0040] Similarly, the described process and device can be applied to vehicles with different types of openings 5: a single door or 2 doors, a metal curtain, a tailgate, etc.

Claims

1. Method for presenting the length of an object extending beyond the rear of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: • acquisition (31) of an image of the rears outside environment close to the vehicle; • presentation (33) of the image on a screen at the level of the vehicle driver's seat; the method is characterised in that it further comprises a step of: • display (35) on the screen of a symbol representing the permitted length limits for an object exceeding the rear of the vehicle.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the symbol comprises at least a first line symbolizing the length from which the object must comprise a warning signal at its end and a second line symbolizing the maximum length permitted for an overshoot.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the previous vehicle comprises a door in the rear of the vehicle, the symbol is presented only on detection that the door is in an open position.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the symbol is presented for a predetermined time.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the symbol is presented in a manner {circumflex over (X)}.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a prior calibration step comprising placing an object with the calibrated signalling length and maximum length and detecting the position of the calibrated lengths on the screen.

7. Device for presenting the length of an object projecting beyond the rear of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: • an image sensor (7) of the rears outside environment close to the vehicle; • an image display (9) at the level of the driver's seat; the device is characterised in that: • the display is adapted to display on the image a symbol (21, 23) representing the permissible lengths for an object exceeding the rear of the vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle comprising a device according to claim 7.

9. computer plan product downloadable from a call network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, wherein it comprises plan code instructions for implementing the presentation method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6.

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